Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I loved your father,” I finally whisper softly.
“He was a good man. Just like Maxwell.”
“Please tell me what you’re thinking, Antonio.”
He directs me to the sofa, and we sit down together. I have my hands in my lap and he holds one of them. “It’s still the early days, Emilia. Anything I tell you would be pure conjecture.”
“I don’t care. I need to know what you’re thinking.”
“My gut tells me they were going after Niko,” he finally confesses. “Gio was killed not long ago. Maybe my enemies think they can get to me by attacking my men.”
His words just make me even more positive I’m right.
“I’m almost sure this was about Niko,” I admit. I’ve been thinking about it too much and now it’s time to share what I think happened.
“What makes you think that?” Antonio asks, frowning as he glances at Niko.
“Katherine.”
“Niko’s ex?”
“Yes, and don’t look at me like that, Antonio. This isn’t about jealousy. I mean, I was jealous, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I spoke with Niko after that. She showed up at his hotel, surprising him.”
“Emilia, men sometimes…”
“I’m not stupid to how men are, Antonio. I’m not being naïve. I also know that Niko swore to me that he didn’t invite her and that he had no idea how she knew what hotel he was in. Maybe she just showed up hoping to get him back, but we don’t have any other leads. I need to question her, Antonio. I want to question her. She’s hiding something. I don’t know how I know, but I do. I’m a woman. It’s easy to imagine being desperate enough to chase after Niko. Still, to chase him down in Greece? It’s not like Katherine has Niko’s money refilling her bank accounts now. No, there’s more here and I need to figure it out.
Antonio looks at me and it’s easy to see that he can’t seem to make up his mind.
“It can’t be a coincidence she was in Greece. Think about it!”
“I agree with her,” Vic speaks up, surprising me. “Niko wasn’t expecting Katherine. He wasn’t happy at all she was there. I thought he was going to send her away immediately, but she had some story about her boyfriend hitting her. She even showed him a small bruise.”
“Was it real?” I ask, frowning.
“I’m no physician, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did it to herself. Plus, it was in a weird placement.”
“Where was it?” I ask, watching as he seems nervous to say. His eyes dart everywhere, but don’t meet mine.
“It was near her breast, but almost strategically placed. There were no other signs of a confrontation,” Vic says in a hurry to explain in case I get the wrong idea. I’m not worried about any of it now. I spent too long being jealous. Now, I’m faced with the fact that if I had reacted differently, I would have had more time with Niko.
I just pray I still get that chance.
“Do you hear that, Antonio? Think about two people fighting. Why would someone hit another person just square in the chest. If it was an intense argument and a spur of the moment thing, then why not a slap across the face or a punch for that matter? At the least it would be the stomach or the throat, right? Heck, even if they were trying to hit someone where they could hide it, wouldn’t it be lower?”
“You have an analytical mind much like your father, Emilia. He would be so proud.”
“I want to help avenge his death, Antonio. I must do it. It’s my right as his daughter.”
“I’m willing to let you have a seat at this table in deference to the fact that it is your father. Also, if Niko wakes up, the two of you will be married and Niko will have a lot of responsibility with the family.”
“It’s not if, Antonio. Niko will wake up.”
“I believe he will, too. He has everything to live for.”
“I’d like to ask you to keep Niko’s condition silent for a little while longer. Even among the family.”
“You think the hit came from within?” DeLuca asks. He looks thoughtful about it, but not surprised in the least.
“I think it came from someone… close to home.”
He doesn’t say anything for a minute, and then sighs. “Let’s not talk in riddles, Emilia. I think we’re past that.”
“I have no proof, but I promise if I find it, you will be the first to know.”
He purses his lips, nodding with what I hope once again is approval. “I thought you would be a crumpled mess after this. Instead, you remind me of the small girl who told my father she wanted to work for the family all those years ago.”
My heart aches with this conservation. Is it a coincidence that Antonio is reminding me of the last conversation I had with my father? I don’t think it is. I think it’s my father sending me a message that I’m on the right path.